Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin

[jim]

I guess it's the demographics - I tend to hang around older folks. Almost all white, middle class and up, and I would say 75% for Obama strictly on issues and who the man is.

I'm not going to say I don't think having a black president is a good thing - I think it's great to address some of the things wart said above. But if he were white I would vote for him, in fact if he were a white annoying women with deep Washington roots I would vote for him(her).

Most of the ones I'm talking about are school-aged (high school seniors) or even some kids that have graduated the last year or two. They'll flat out tell you that they only reason they're going to vote is because they want a black president. They have no idea what the man stands for, and they really don't care. They'll tell you that, too. Many have commented that their parents feel the same way. And some have said their parents have never voted before.

And, like I said, I've heard from older white voters, some Democrats, that won't vote for Obama because he's black. That's the only reason.

Race issues haven't gotten very far where I'm at despite what people think around here.

Yeah I believe that, thinking back to my youth.

[Tambourine Man]

This has already gone on too long, for which I apologize.

Are you kidding? This was one of the best posts in the thread. Thanks.

As a white man who hails from a family with a long political history in East St Louis and it's surrounding municipalities, I know the game of which you speak. It's also why I'm sour on politicians in general.

[BW23]

I guess it's the demographics - I tend to hang around older folks. Almost all white, middle class and up, and I would say 75% for Obama strictly on issues and who the man is.

I'm not going to say I don't think having a black president is a good thing - I think it's great to address some of the things wart said above. But if he were white I would vote for him, in fact if he were a white annoying women with deep Washington roots I would vote for him(her).

Most of the ones I'm talking about are school-aged (high school seniors) or even some kids that have graduated the last year or two. They'll flat out tell you that they only reason they're going to vote is because they want a black president. They have no idea what the man stands for, and they really don't care. They'll tell you that, too. Many have commented that their parents feel the same way. And some have said their parents have never voted before.

And, like I said, I've heard from older white voters, some Democrats, that won't vote for Obama because he's black. That's the only reason.

Race issues haven't gotten very far where I'm at despite what people think around here.

Yeah I believe that, thinking back to my youth.

My town is very racist. The worst part....you don't know who is and who isn't. I think it's better when you know where people actually stand as it is in some smaller surrounding communities....communities that have no black residents and are pretty proud of that.

[tenniseleven]

I can only imagine what having 4+ years of a black president could do for the minorities of this country...

there is no debate that at this point blacks don't have the same chances and same advantages to succeed in this country, absolutely no debate, just look at the friggen numbers...

I'd love to see the numbers comparing how many WnH doctors, lawyers and CEO's there are compared to how many black persons hold the same professions...


is that a good reason to elect a President, in a perfect world No, but in a world where we live (a world where even the government persuades its own people in ways that are not honest), just maybe it's a means to an end...not sure...

[Richie Allen]

At what point do we get to stop the love affair with the idea of a black president? I really don't care about the color of my president, but I do care about his decisions he makes in office.

I don't know of a single person who is voting for Obama because he is black. Really sucks that this question is still coming up.

Although it's not high on my list of priorities for picking a candidate, I think it would be absolutely wonderful if a black man were chosen to lead this country.

I think the more reasonable question to ask is "at what point do we get to stop the love affair with the idea that only white men can be president?"

Oh, and yes, it is horribly insulting to assume that Obama is only leading this race because of his color. Both to Obama and the people supporting him.

[jim]

I can only imagine what having 4+ years of a black president could do for the minorities of this country...

there is no debate that at this point blacks don't have the same chances and same advantages to succeed in this country, absolutely no debate, just look at the friggen numbers...

I'd love to see the numbers comparing how many WnH doctors, lawyers and CEO's there are compared to how many black persons hold the same professions...


is that a good reason to elect a President, in a perfect world No, but in a world where we live (a world where even the government persuades its own people in ways that are not honest), just maybe it's a means to an end...not sure...

I agree with the benefits of a black president, fortunately for me I don't have to consider the color of the skin. Where the candidates stand on the issues make it a very black and white choice for me - pun intended.

[Richie Allen]

From the What Was McCain Thinking article, this exactly echoes my thinking on the issue:

18 Million Cracks in the Glass Ceiling
"It was obvious anyway, but became beat-you-over-the-head-with-a-two-by-four obvious when Palin referenced the ‘glass ceiling’ line, that this choice is a blatant pander to women. I would like to believe that women will actually feel insulted by this. Yes, it would have been historic if Hillary had gotten the nomination. It was historic that she made it as far as she did. Yes, it would be great to have a woman in the oval office, or in the VP slot if they are the right woman…a woman who got there with her own drive, grit, determination, intelligence, skill and merits. When you’re hand-picked by a man to win votes simply because you are a woman, that doesn’t count, and it doesn’t break any kind of ceiling. Would we have had a Stan Palin as our VP pick? No. So choosing a woman because you think her gender will get votes is insulting."

[jim]

From the What Was McCain Thinking article, this exactly echoes my thinking on the issue:

18 Million Cracks in the Glass Ceiling
"It was obvious anyway, but became beat-you-over-the-head-with-a-two-by-four obvious when Palin referenced the ‘glass ceiling’ line, that this choice is a blatant pander to women. I would like to believe that women will actually feel insulted by this. Yes, it would have been historic if Hillary had gotten the nomination. It was historic that she made it as far as she did. Yes, it would be great to have a woman in the oval office, or in the VP slot if they are the right woman…a woman who got there with her own drive, grit, determination, intelligence, skill and merits. When you’re hand-picked by a man to win votes simply because you are a woman, that doesn’t count, and it doesn’t break any kind of ceiling. Would we have had a Stan Palin as our VP pick? No. So choosing a woman because you think her gender will get votes is insulting."

If Hilary really wants to cement her place in the good graces of all Dems, she needs to rip this lady a new one over the coming months.

[Richie Allen]

I agree Jim.

On the Hillary issue, I think it's almost laughable that there is a line of thinking out there that Barrack has to somehow heal the wounds over what happened to Hillary. Sure, he'll need their votes in November, I'm not suggesting he won't. But someone please tell me what he did to cause 18,000,000 Hillary supports to detest him, other than beat her.

She was the one with the continual questionably unethical attacks on him. She's the one that compared him unfavorably to their Republican opponent, something you never do. She's the one that stubbornly acted ignorant when it was obvious that their platforms were very similar but she had to find a way to differentiate herself because if it came down to personality, she was the loser. She was the pushy, overbearing hateful candidate who one minute interrupted and showed how forceful she was and the next minute thought it was "curious why she always went first," insinuating that everyone was picking on the woman. Barrack was quite graceful throughout, despite her continual attempts to bait him. "Shame on you Barrack Obama." That line was going to be used whether he ever played dirty or not. It was the most shameful campaign I've ever witnessed and I would have loved it if Obama and McCain stood together and said neither of us are interested in winning over the Hillary supporters (I know that would never happen) rather than both of them continually pandering to them.

[tenniseleven]

Clinton may be the only person out there who could attack this woman without being made to look like an arse...

I really think that this was a last minute decision from the McCain camp based upon the Biden choice...

Biden is one of the best, if not the best, attack dogs in politics...he's intelligent, quick-tongued and not afraid to put his foot in his mouth..

nominating Palin takes this away from Biden, as there is no way he can attack a woman, especially a woman with a young child with down syndrome...


plus, Palin may be just about as sharp-tongued as Biden from what I can see...fairly ruthless and uncompromising in her ideology...not a woman I'd want to get in an argument with...she makes Clinton look like a weekend softballer in comparison to a MLB player when it comes to doing whatever it takes to get what you want...